Gravely Metal Cracked!

Allright I love the way my 260Z cuts and the mower is very rugged, but I have to call it out on this. I just noticed today that there are cracks on the bulkhead that holds the frame, footpanel, and front castor arms together. Both sides have cracks.

These are serious friggin cracks. The pictures don't really show, but the cracks are all the way through the metal, not just the paint.

I also included a pic where the bolt broke off in the deck where the belt cover is held on for the second time! I drilled the first out, I'm taking this one in to get fixed.

The mower has just under 500 hours on it so it should all be covered under warranty. Anyone familiar with this issue? I remember someone bringing up cracks a while back. I can't find the thread now.

i have a gravely walk behind and today the front left wheel broke off where the wheel connects to the mower itself. if this even makes any sense without pics. lol. and this mower only has around 400 hours on it.

i have a gravely walk behind and today the front left wheel broke off where the wheel connects to the mower itself. if this even makes any sense without pics. lol. and this mower only has around 400 hours on it.

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Now your just making Gravely look bad lol. You got to get a pic of this.

That's normal, especially on fixed decks but most any mower the steel will eventually do that,
one of the main reasons why higher-end commercial models have 7-gauge decks and frames...
You may notice some lower-priced 'commercial' brands of mowers, always check the gauge of
the steel because I can about guarantee it's not 7-gauge (i.e.: it's thinner!).
So that's one of the main reasons why we pay 3-4 thousand for a belt-drive, the gauge of the steel.

Now if the cracks get to be a concern, my 10-year old Toro Wb is starting to get like that,
you can have it spot-welded just seal up the crack with a weld and gtg.

Allright I love the way my 260Z cuts and the mower is very rugged, but I have to call it out on this. I just noticed today that there are cracks on the bulkhead that holds the frame, footpanel, and front castor arms together. Both sides have cracks.

These are serious friggin cracks. The pictures don't really show, but the cracks are all the way through the metal, not just the paint.

I also included a pic where the bolt broke off in the deck where the belt cover is held on for the second time! I drilled the first out, I'm taking this one in to get fixed.

The mower has just under 500 hours on it so it should all be covered under warranty. Anyone familiar with this issue? I remember someone bringing up cracks a while back. I can't find the thread now.

Click to expand...

Looks like the piece that cracked is just a bolt-on piece. No big deal. Now if a welded on piece broke... That's different story.

I guess if you guys say so. I wouldn't think it's normal for a mower that's less than two years old. Fortunately it is just a bolt on piece from the looks of thinks so it should be an easy fix for my dealer. It might only take them 10 days this time I would estimate the metal to be about 7 when comparing to the deck.